What are prostate cancer treatment methods?
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate gland, which is a small walnut-shaped gland in men that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.
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Prostate cancer awareness
- Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among men, especially older men. It is estimated that approximately 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.
- Major risk factors include age (most common in men aged 65 and older), family history (risk increases if a father or brother had prostate cancer), race (more common in African American men), and lifestyle factors such as diet.
- Early stages of prostate cancer often have no symptoms. In more advanced cases, symptoms might include difficulty urinating, blood in urine or semen, erectile dysfunction, and discomfort in the pelvic area.
- Prostate cancer has a very high survival rate compared to other cancers. The overall 5-year survival rate is around 98%. When detected at a local or regional stage, the survival rate is nearly 100%.
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Depending on the stage of prostate cancer, different treatment methods demonstrate varying levels of effectiveness:
1. Early-Stage Prostate Cancer (Localized)
- Active Surveillance. Monitoring the cancer closely through regular PSA tests and biopsies without active treatment is highly effective in carefully selected patients, with minimal progression in many cases over several years.
- Surgery (Radical Prostatectomy). Complete removal of the prostate gland and some surrounding tissues, potentially including lymph nodes. Offers a high chance of eradicating cancer, with a 5-year survival rate close to 100%.
- Radiation Therapy. Treatment with high-energy rays or particles to destroy cancer cells. Can be external beam radiation or brachytherapy (radioactive seeds). Comparable to surgery with most localized cases having a 5-year survival rate close to 100%.
| Treatment Method |
Method Description |
Success Rate |
| Active Surveillance |
Regular monitoring through PSA tests and biopsies without immediate treatment. Helps to manage the disease in early stages, avoiding or delaying the side effects of more aggressive therapies. |
5-year survival rate close to 100%
|
| Surgery (Radical Prostatectomy) |
Complete removal of the prostate gland and some surrounding tissues, potentially including lymph nodes. |
5-year survival rate close to 100% |
| Radiation Therapy |
Treatment with high-energy rays or particles to destroy cancer cells, can be external beam radiation or brachytherapy. |
5-year survival rate close to 100% |
2. Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer
- Radiation Therapy Plus Hormone Therapy. Radiation combined with drugs lowers androgen levels, which can stimulate prostate cancer growth. This combination improves survival, with studies showing a 10-year survival rate of approximately 60-75%.
- Surgery Plus Adjuvant Therapy. Prostatectomy followed by additional treatments based on risk factors and cancer spread, typically involving radiation or hormone therapy. Can increase disease-free survival rates significantly, with 10-year survival rates ranging from 70-80%.
| Treatment Method |
Method Description |
Success Rate |
| Radiation Therapy + Hormone Therapy |
Combination of radiation with drugs that lower androgen levels to inhibit cancer growth. |
10-year survival rate approx. 60-75% |
| Surgery + Adjuvant Therapy |
Prostatectomy followed by additional treatments (radiation or hormone therapy) based on cancer spread and risk. |
10-year survival rate approx. 70-80% |
3. Advanced and Metastatic Prostate Cancer
- Hormone Therapy. Medications to reduce testosterone levels, which prostate cancer cells rely on to grow. Can control disease progression for an average of 18-24 months before resistance develops.
- Chemotherapy. Uses drugs like Docetaxel to kill cancer cells, especially useful when hormone therapy stops working. Extends median survival by several months, typically improving survival by about 2-3 months on average.
- Immunotherapy. Treatments that help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells, such as Sipuleucel-T (Provenge). Extends life, improving survival by about 4 months on average in treated patients.
- Bone-directed Therapy. Treatments to strengthen bones and relieve pain from bone metastases include drugs like denosumab and bisphosphonates. Effective in reducing skeletal-related events and improving quality of life, though not directly improving survival rates.
Xofigo (radium-223 dichloride) is a type of bone-directed therapy that specifically targets bone metastases. Unlike traditional systemic treatments, Xofigo precisely targets areas where cancer has spread to the bones. It delivers targeted radiation directly to these bone metastases, helping to alleviate symptoms and extend life.
In a major study called the ALSYMPCA trial, it was found that patients who were treated with Xofigo lived about 3.6 months longer on average compared to those who didn't receive this treatment.This shows that Xofigo can help extend the life of patients with advanced prostate cancer affecting the bones.
| Treatment Method |
Method Description |
Success Rate |
| Hormone Therapy |
Medications to reduce testosterone levels, which prostate cancer cells rely on to grow. |
Controls disease for avg. 18-24 months. |
| Chemotherapy |
Uses drugs like Docetaxel to kill cancer cells, especially useful when hormone therapy stops working. |
Extends survival by 2-3 months. |
| Immunotherapy |
Treatments like Sipuleucel-T that help the immune system attack cancer cells. |
Extends life by approx. 4 months. |
| Bone-directed Therapy |
Treatments such as denosumab and bisphosphonates to strengthen bones and relieve pain from bone metastases. |
Reduces skeletal events, improves quality of life. |
Recent advancements in prostate cancer treatment have significantly improved outcomes, particularly in the advanced stages of the disease.
1. Introduction of PSMA PET-CT scans, which provides precise detection of cancer spread.
2. Genomic Testing allows for personalized treatment plans based on genetic profiles.
3. New Hormonal therapy drugs like Apalutamide and Enzalutamide extend life for men with resistant forms of prostate cancer.
In the TITAN trial, Apalutamide combined with ADT (androgen deprivation therapy) showed a 33% reduction in the risk of death compared to ADT alone. At two years of follow-up, approximately 82% of men receiving Apalutamide with ADT were still alive, versus 74% of men treated with ADT and a placebo.
4. Radioligand therapy in which Lu-PSMA-617 targets and delivers radiation directly to cancer cells, effective in advanced cases.
In the VISION trial, the therapy significantly extended both overall survival and progression-free survival compared to standard treatments alone. Patients treated with Lu-PSMA-617 experienced a median overall survival of 15.3 months, compared to 11.3 months for those receiving only the standard care.
These advancements are particularly beneficial in managing advanced prostate cancer, representing significant progress toward more targeted, less invasive, and personalized treatments. For more details, contact the Bookimed medical coordinator. Bookimed specialists provide free assistance in finding the optimal treatment method for each patient.
How is the best prostate cancer centers ranking composed?
The ranking of top hospitals for urology cancer treatment is dynamic. It means that the position of the cancer centers is changing depending on such factors:
- Popularity of a particular hospital for prostate oncology treatment
- Patient reviews
- Price policy of the medical institution
- Doctors' experience in urology and prostate cancer operations.
If the prostate cancer center receives a low evaluation or poor patient reviews, it goes down in the rating. This is automatically composed ranking without subjective opinion.
Bookimed directly cooperates only with the world's leading centers, certified and approved by prestigious cancer associations. Before starting a partnership, we carefully check each hospital to be sure our patients will receive the most qualitative medical assistance.
How to choose the best hospital for prostate cancer?
It may seem difficult to choose the best urology cancer center for some people. Pay attention to such factors to receive the most effective treatment:
- Patient reviews. Learn more about the experience of other patients who received treatment at the particular prostate cancer center. It will help you to understand the level of medical services and the success of therapy in the hospital.
- Doctor's experience. The key factor to a successful outcome is the experience of a doctor. Learn his/her CV to make sure of the professionalism. If you are looking for a specialist in a specific treatment option for prostate cancer (HIFU, brachytherapy, or Da Vinci prostatectomy), find out how many procedures a doctor has performed.
- Treatment cost. The price for the prostate cancer treatment may vary from country to country. If you want to save money, choose clinics located in India, Turkey, the Czech Republic. It will be 40-60% cheaper than in the USA, Germany, or Austria, for instance.
- Hospital's location. Choose the clinic that is located not too far from your own country. It will make travel comfortable and reduce ticket charges.
If you need any assistance in choosing the best prostate cancer treatment center, ask Bookimed manager. You will receive a free consultation and answers to all your questions.
What are the best prostate cancer centers in Europe?
According to Bookimed patients' opinion, the best prostate and urology cancer treatment centers in Europe are:
- St. Zdislava Hospital (Czech Republic). The medical center is among the best places to have Da Vinci prostatectomy (the prostate gland removal). The leading world's specialists perform the surgery — Dt. Jaroslav Tvaruzek and Dr. Azat Hamzin. The price of the procedure is the lowest in Europe but its quality is at the highest level.
- Asklepios Hospital Barmbek (Germany). Asklepios provides all treatments for prostate cancer. The hospital takes leading positions in performing HIFU (a non-surgical therapy with heated ultrasonic waves) within. Over 500 procedures have been carried out here.
If you need any assistance in choosing the best hospital for urology cancer treatment in Europe, submit a request.
How to get an appointment with the best prostate cancer doctor?
Bookimed cooperates with the best prostate cancer centers in the world. These hospitals employ the leading urology and prostate cancer specialists with decades of experience, membership in the international medical organizations, and leaders of the prestigious rankings. The doctors apply the latest technologies and manage prostate cancer treatment achieving the highest success rate.
If you want to get a consultation with one of the leading prostate oncologists, just submit a request. Bookimed manager will arrange the consultation with a chosen specialist within several days.
How to undergo treatment of the prostate oncology?
Follow these steps to get the most effective prostate cancer treatment in the shortest term:
- Compare the benefits of the prostate and urology cancer centers listed on this page.
- Choose 1 or several medical centers suitable for you the most.
- Submit a request on Bookimed.
- Bookimed manager will contact you to answer all questions.
- Together you discuss each hospital for prostate cancer treatment and choose the best one in your case.
- You receive a direct bill from the hospital.
- If you approve the bill, Bookimed manager arranges your treatment in a chosen medical institution.
You pay to the hospital directly. Bookimed services are free for a patient.
References
- Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer | Prostate Cancer Facts. Information and Resources about Cancer: Breast, Colon, Lung, Prostate, Skin | American Cancer Society. URL: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html. (date of access: 17.05.2024).
- Risks and causes of prostate cancer. Cancer Research UK. URL: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer/risks-causes (date of access: 17.05.2024).
- Prostate Cancer Signs and Symptoms. Information and Resources about Cancer: Breast, Colon, Lung, Prostate, Skin | American Cancer Society. URL: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html (date of access: 17.05.2024).
- What Are the Survival Rates for Prostate Cancer?. Information and Resources about Cancer: Breast, Colon, Lung, Prostate, Skin | American Cancer Society. URL: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html (date of access: 17.05.2024).
- Active surveillance for the management of localized prostate cancer: Guideline recommendations / C. Morash et al. Canadian Urological Association Journal. 2015. Vol. 9, no. 5-6. P. 171. URL: https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.2806 (date of access: 17.05.2024).
